Mother’s Voice school in Sakumono has held its sixth graduation ceremony with the call for Ghanaians to hold their cultural heritage in high esteem.

The Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Cultural Co-ordinator of the Ghana Education Service, Desmond Ali-Alhassan Gasanga, speaking under the theme “Enhancing quality education, the way forward”, said quality and excellent education could not be achieved without the effective teaching and learning of the Ghanaian languages, music, dance and drama in our schools.

“It is rather unfortunate that these aspects that define us as a people are downgraded and ignored,” he bemoaned.

He advised parents against communicating in English at home consistently with their children, saying that could dissuade the children appreciating the local languages, culture and identity.

He noted that through the teaching of music, dance and drama which were grouped under the performing arts, the country could produce creative writers and performing artistes who would help develop the creative industry for the benefit of the nation.

He explained that the National Literacy Acceleration Programme (NALAP) was introduced into the education system because it was realised that pupils learnt English fast if they were taught concepts in their mother tongue or local languages.

Mr. Gasanga stressed that children’s cognitive development would improve if teachers applied multi-disciplinary approach during lessons with more emphasis on the teaching of critical thinking, observation and analysis, and logical reasoning.

He further implored teachers and parents to inculcate the fear of God, patriotism, hard work, the love and appreciation of the Ghanaian cultural heritage with its associated virtues and values, into the children.

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman of the school, Rev. Jonathan Kofi Osei, for his part, expressed dissatisfaction at the misplacement of priorities and the frivolous expenses by some parents, and appealed to them to invest in their children in the interest of their effective development.

He advised management of schools to always ensure the availability of teaching and learning materials for the teaching staff to discharge their duties effectively.

The headmistress of the school, Mrs. Sarah Owusu-Ansah, expressed worry about the negative attitude of some parents towards their children’s education and pleaded with them to assist the children at home by checking their home work.

With effective collaboration between parents and teachers, every child’s dream would materialise, she added.